Sarita River adopted 3 April 1934 on C.327 as labelled on BC map 2A, 1913, and identified in 1930 BC Gazetteer. Had been labelled "Sarita Valley" on British Admiralty Chart 584, 1861. Headwaters at 48 56 - 124 47 on 92C/15.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Origin/significance not recorded. [note: In Spanish, "Sarita" is a diminutive for "Sara"; possibly this feature was named by Don José Maria Narvaez in 1789 during his exploration and methodical charting of Baia de Carrasco (later Barkley Sound) ? While Captain Barkley, aboard the Imperial Eagle, had been in these waters in 1786 there is no evidence that he had explored the upper reaches or shoreline of the Sound, as his journals contain no mention of the estuary of this river, or even the entrance to Alberni Canal.]

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

The Huu-ay-aht name for Sarita River is Aniqshilth (pronounced anuk shey tlis). The name means "white with the sperm of salmon" a reference to observing and utilizing natural phenomenon as a calendar, to indicate the optimum time for harvesting resources in this vicinity. "This was two hundred years ago. The time of food shortages - drought. Then the Ucluelets (Yoolthooilthath) decided they should go to war. Their aim was to get Sarita River (Aniqshilth)." (Huu-ay-aht Place Names in the Chief Louie Nookemus historial accounts, c1964, shared September 2009 in the context of the Maa-nulth First Nations Treaty.)

Source: included with note